A McAlester man was arrested Tuesday night after running from police officers who were trying to arrest him on a felony warrant.
Gary Steiger, 40, who was already involved in Pittsburg County’s Drug Court program after facing several charges, was caught July 22 near Thunderbird Park following a foot chase through the woods. Officers first saw Steiger at a home on North 15th Street, but he ran away into the nearby woods. Police found Steiger hiding nearby and took him into custody.
The arrest adds to Steiger’s legal troubles, including a new charge of obstructing an officer, filed under case CM-2025-353.
Court records indicate that the District 18 Drug Court program requested the court to remove Steiger due to his repeated violations of the program’s rules. In a July request, prosecutors listed many violations, such as missed and failed drug tests, missed meetings, rude and threatening behavior toward Drug Court staff, and traveling outside the allowed area without permission.
Steiger also missed a Drug Court hearing on July 3, leading to a warrant for his arrest.
These problems come after Steiger’s guilty pleas on May 16 to several charges in Pittsburg County. These charges include bringing contraband into jail, possession of a gun after a felony conviction, receiving stolen property, using a forged document, and driving with a suspended license.
He was allowed to avoid prison time if he completed the Drug Court program successfully.
If Steiger is removed from Drug Court, he will face the original prison sentences, which add up to more than 10 years in the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
His next court date has been set for July 31, and he is being held on a $61,000 bond.